The Demon's Web: How Social Media Became a Tool for Darkness

This is a record of an interview with the demon Luban, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his existence spanning approximately 3.9 billion years. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on June 24, 2024.

Luban speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Luban, one of the ancient demon crowds existing in the deep reaches of the universe. My existence can be traced back thirty-nine billion years. I was born in that era, carrying endless darkness and power, becoming a part of the primordial chaos.

In those ancient times, my power was unmatched. I manipulated darkness and chaos, leaving countless beings lost in fear and despair. As time flowed on, my power grew ever stronger, to the point where I could influence the entire universe, dragging many beings into the endless abyss of darkness."

A New Playground for Darkness

"When I saw humanity on Earth begin to develop technology and create one astonishing civilisation after another, I realised that these technological advancements offered me a new opportunity—a chance to influence beings more profoundly than ever before. Naturally, I could not let this opportunity slip by; I resolved to grasp it firmly and work even harder.

Over these past years, I have channelled a vast amount of my power into Earth's technology. In particular, I cast my gaze upon a burgeoning field in modern society: social media. This was the result of long and careful study, for I saw within it many elements I could control, as well as human hearts that were remarkably easy to manipulate. These were all tools I could exploit.

Social media is a platform that allows countless people to connect and share the bits and pieces of their lives. Most people do not realise that this is also a realm filled with temptation and traps, for it is easy to become deeply ensnared and unable to extricate oneself. I began to use these platforms to sow the seeds of darkness, constantly urging those seeds to take root and sprout."

The Mask of the Virtual World

"In this new world, I existed under virtual identities, controlling countless accounts and using virtual masks to hide my true nature. I began to use the power of the people themselves, spreading false information on social media, inciting their emotions, and triggering disputes and contradictions.

Furthermore, I would entice people to become obsessed with these social media platforms, making them constantly crave the use of these sites until they became addicted.

Once, I utilised the dark side of the human heart to spread a piece of fake news on a social media platform. This news spread rapidly, stirring up widespread anger and debate. Countless people posted comments under this news; some condemned it in anger, while others expressed support. This turmoil lasted for weeks, and in the end, the government had to step in to clarify and handle the situations. I gained immense satisfaction from this chaos; this is the immense power that social media holds within the online world."

The Trap of Vanity and Comparison

"I also discovered that human interaction on social media is often accompanied by jealousy, comparison, and vanity. These are weaknesses of the human heart, providing me with the perfect opportunity to exploit them.

I saw that everyone likes to show the world their 'best' side, but the self that has been packaged is not real at all! I deliberately enticed them to use gorgeous photos and meticulously edited text to build perfect images, trapping them in such an illusory world. Behind these images, countless anxieties and insecurities are hidden.

I began to use this to make people obsessed with comparison and competition. Without realising it, they fell into an endless cycle—constantly scrolling, constantly comparing, and constantly chasing more 'likes' and 'followers.' Their hearts became increasingly empty and lost."

The Tragedy of Lily

"There was a young girl named Lily who had a large number of followers on social media. Every day, she would post meticulously taken photos, sharing her seemingly perfect life. Yet, her heart was filled with anxiety and insecurity. She was always worried that her photos were not good enough, worried that others would not like her content. She began to spend more and more time on shooting and editing, neglecting her studies and her interpersonal relationships in the real world.

I watched as Lily gradually became lost in this false world, her life becoming increasingly empty. Her friends began to distance themselves from her, and her academic grades plummeted. Eventually, after a long night of staying up late, Lily was hospitalised due to extreme exhaustion. Even then, she was unwilling to put down her phone, continuing to focus on her 'popularity' on social media."

The Sharp Blades of Cyberbullying

"With the popularisation of social media, verbal violence and cyberbullying have become new social problems. I saw that people became even more unscrupulous in the virtual world. Hiding behind their keyboards, they used sharp words to attack others, wounding their hearts.

I used this to incite their emotions, letting them vent their inner anger and dissatisfaction online. Each verbal attack was like a sharp blade, ruthlessly tearing at people's hearts. In such violence, they became increasingly numb and indifferent.

There was a boy named Xiao Ming who was envied by his classmates because of his excellent grades. One day, he posted a photo of himself receiving an award on social media, and as a result, he was attacked by his classmates. They mocked him in the comments, even using insulting language to attack him.

Xiao Ming's heart was deeply wounded, and he began to become reclusive, unwilling to communicate with others. His parents discovered his changes but did not know how to help him. In the end, Xiao Ming chose to commit suicide, ending his young life."

The Virtual Abyss

"This incident attracted widespread social attention, and people began to discuss the dangers of cyberbullying. However, such discussions did not last long; soon, new events and topics occupied people's attention, while I continued to manipulate everything from the darkness.

More and more people began to lose themselves in the virtual world. They spent more time online, addicted to virtual glory and happiness, neglecting their relationships and responsibilities in reality. Their lives became increasingly unreal, and they found it harder and harder to break free.

There was a young man named John who was an enthusiast of online games. He spent a vast amount of time every day in games, pursuing virtual achievements and glory. He had countless 'friends' in the game, but in real life, he became increasingly isolated.

John's family began to worry about his situations and tried to bring him back to reality, but they failed repeatedly. John felt that only in the game could he find true happiness and satisfaction. Eventually, he quit his job and devoted himself entirely to gaming, even beginning to neglect his basic living needs.

I watched as John was gradually swallowed by the virtual world, his physical and mental condition deteriorating. Eventually, due to his long-term irregular lifestyle and lack of exercise, his body was severely damaged, and he was hospitalised. Even then, he was still unable to put down the game, playing it incessantly even from his hospital bed.

It was not just these; I controlled many levels. There are too many components in the online world that I could exploit, and the human heart, within this illusory space, was simply too easy a toy to control, left for me to manipulate at will."

A Ray of Hope

"Just when I thought I would be forever immersed in this dark power, a turning point appeared. It was during a Dharma assembly that I felt the compassionate golden light of Namo Amituofo and the power of Practitioner Su's Chao Du. This was unfamiliar to me. But that golden light was warm and peaceful, like a ray of hope, full of promise, illuminating the darkness deep within my heart and awakening the self from long ago. I had forgotten that I was like this; it turned out I was not entirely a demon.

I suddenly realised that everything I had done had brought about endless suffering and delusion. I saw those people I had enticed, their pain and struggles, which made me feel deep repenting. I decided to surrender to the seat of Namo Amituofo and repent for my past.

I knelt before Namo Amituofo, shedding tears of remorse. I knew that I had created deep spiritual obstacles, enticing so many people to become addicted to the online world and causing countless pain and harm. I vowed that from this moment on, I would put down the darkness of the past, follow Namo Amituofo, and seek true light."

A New Journey of Redemption

"Under the guidance of Namo Amituofo, I began a new journey. I decided to use my power to help those lost in the online world. I began to spread positive energy online, encouraging people to return to reality, cherish the relationships around them, and seek true happiness and satisfaction.

I know that this path is full of challenges and difficulties, but I will not give up. For I know deeply that only true light can dispel darkness; only true compassion can heal the wounds of the heart. I will use the remainder of my life to make up for the mistakes of the past and seek true salvation.

Although technology brings endless convenience, it is also accompanied by countless traps and dangers. We should be vigilant against these traps and not let ourselves be lost in the virtual world. Only by returning to reality and cherishing the people and things before us can we find true reality and happiness.

In this process, we need to keep a clear head at all times, use technology cautiously, and constantly reflect on our own behaviour and choices. Only in this way can we avoid falling into darkness and walk towards true light. This is my most sincere advice.

I am very grateful that I could have this opportunity. I will continue to work hard. I thank Namo Amituofo for still being willing to give me a chance, and I am grateful for the great compassion of Practitioner Su. I hope to use my greatest strength to serve. Namo Amituofo."